Folding and extension measuring-rod



(No Model.) 5

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Folding and'ExtensionM-easuringRod.

No. 230,640. vPatenmdfmg. '3, ,1880.A

MIETEN. PNMUTHOGIAPMD. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENTV Ormea.

`WILLIAM W. MASSEY, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

FOLDING AND EXTENSION MEASURING-RD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,640. dated August 3, 1880.

Application iled May 22, 1880. (No model.)

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. MAssEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio,

have invented a new and useful Improvement `may be readily converted into a straight measuring-rod of any desired length, or be so adjusted that it will form alarge square or bevel of any desired angle, at the will of the operator. l attain these objects by the mechauismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of one of the hinges. Figs. 2, 3 are end elevations of the respective arms of the hinge. Figs. 4, 5 are plan views ofthe same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the hinge. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a detached arm of the hinge.' Fig. Sis a side elevation of the bolt used for locking the hin ge. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rod when exten ded to its greatest length, having the extended portion broken of. Fig. l0 is a perspective View of the clamps and guides. Fig. 11 is an elevation of the rule when so adjusted as to form a square or bevel.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The bars A A B B constitute the rod.,

These bars are hinged together, as seen at G C/ that is, bars A A are hinged together and form one distinct section of the rod, and bars B B also in like manner form asimilar section of the rod. These sections are clasped together, aswill more fully. lappear, so that they may freely slide almost their entire length.

D represents a clamp, which is seen in per-v spective in Fig. 10. Said clamp is secured to the bars A and B at' or near their ends by letting the tongue a into again cut across the inner surface of the bar. Said gain is cut somewhat deeper than the thickness of the tongue a, so that the tongue may be withdrawn into the gain by means of the thumb-nut b on shank o, for the purpose of pressing the sec- -tions of the rod into close contact to prevent their slipping when the rod is set at any desired length.

d represents a tongue which is formed on the tongue a. Said tongue d tits into groove e of the opposite section alternately. Said tongue d and groove e in the opposite section serve to guide and stiEen the rod when extended, while the clamp serves to hold the sections in close contact, and at the same time allow them to slide freely, as well as to lclamp the sections firmly together when desired.

The hinges G C are so constructed that when.

the sections of the rod are opened a sliding holt, f, is forced forward by means of a spiral spring, g, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1,) so as to eft'ectually lock the joint and render it rigid until the bolt is again withdrawn. Said bolt f (see Fig. 8)-is plain and straight, except at its inner end, where it is chamfered, so as to form an inclined plane, q. This bolt may be square or round. as is most convenient.

When the joint is opened so that the rod becomes straight the spiral spring actnates the bolt and forces it forward into a recess, h, in the center disk of the joint. The upper portion of said recess It consists of an inclined plane, (see Fig. 7 under which the inclined plane of bolt fis forced, so that when these two inclined surfaces impinge firmly all slack motion is taken up, and thus the rod is held rigidly in a straight position. Y When the bolt is withdrawn and the join-t is slightly bent the bolt is held back by the periphery of the said disk, against which it always presses.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The two sections are placed parallel to each other, both of them being opened out straight, so that the grooved sides come together, the ends being even and the joints come opposite to each other, the ends. M" and the ends j j each coinciding andV forming the two ends of the united sections. The thumb-nut is then tightened and the joints are unlocked, and the rod may be folded in a small compass.

When to be used as a measure the sections are opened and the joints are simultaneously locked. The thumb-nut is relieved, so th at the sections of the rod will slide freely. They are then drawn ont to the desired length and are IOO able measure, which is of great advantage in taking distances in many places where a single rigid rod would beim practicable. When desi red this rod can be converted into a serviceable and reliable large square by extending it to an indicated length, which may be marked on that portion of the sections which are contiguous to each other, as seen in Fig. l1, and the joints unlocked and the bars which form the outer ends ofthe sections brought to the position seen in said figure, where they are secured together by inserting a pin, 7c, through suitable holes, which are there provided for that. purpose. In like manner any desired bevel may be made by loosening the thumb-nut and moving the bars such a distance as will give the required angle.

The pitch of a roof' can be instantly obtained by sliding the sections to a given indicated point which will form the the exact bevel for the rafters.

These instruments may be made of' any desired'length, and iu view ofthe many and important practical purposes to which it is readily and reliably applied there can be no doubt otl its great utility.

What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The boltf, having an inclined surface, q, and spiral spring' g, in combination with recess h, having its upper surface inclined, as described, for the purpose ot' rigidly locking the joint and taking up any slack motion, as described.

2. rlhe clamp D and tongues d, in combination with grooves e, the same bein g constructed in the manner and for the purpose specified.

WM. W. MASSEY. Attest:

H. F. WILLsoN, S. B. BUCK. 

